PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edwardo Rosario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Idris Luther (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luther has chosen Across 110th street - Bobby Womack as his entrance music. Edwardo Rosario has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Rosario
vs
Luther

214 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
266 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edwardo Rosario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Idris Luther!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luther instigates a clinch.

Rosario escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Luther rushes Rosario and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Luther successfully pulls guard.
Rosario throws a big elbow that misses.

Luther is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rosario is aware though and is defending well.
Luther preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luther looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rosario preventing the sweep.
Rosario is looking to work some ground and pound but Luther has wrist control.
Luther avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rosario throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rosario with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rosario makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rosario scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rosario missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rosario postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rosario postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Luther had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rosario defends it easily.
Rosario throwing strikes from guard but Luther blocks nicely.
Rosario throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rosario is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rosario with a nice head shot there.
Rosario with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rosario trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Luther looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luther avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rosario postures up and lands a big shot to Luther's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rosario's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Luther tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rosario throws a big right hand that misses.
Rosario trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rosario postures up in Luther's guard and throws a big left but Luther blocks it.

Luther had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rosario defends it easily.
Luther looks winded!
Rosario is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rosario loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rosario lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rosario missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rosario throws an elbow that misses. Luther uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rosario's guard. Nice move by Luther!

Luther tries to free his leg and advance position but Rosario is retaining full guard.

Luther decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rosario throws a sloppy head kick and Luther moves out of range easily.

Luther gets a double leg takedown into Rosario's guard.

Luther drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rosario manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Luther has Rosario in his guard.

Rosario throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luther working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rosario.
Rosario lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rosario throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rosario missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Luther trying to control the position.
Rosario will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rosario with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rosario throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Luther works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Luther preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luther lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edwardo Rosario dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck for Rosario with that takedown attempt.

Luther manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rosario on his heels. He'll look to pass Rosario's guard now, I'm sure.
Rosario pulls Luther in to control the position.
Luther tries to free his leg and advance position but Rosario is retaining full guard.
Rosario working a defensive guard but Luther manages to pass into side control anyway.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rosario taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rosario struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luther working the ground and pound.

It looks like Edwardo Rosario has been cut.
Rosario has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Luther is looking to take a break and control but Rosario is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Luther working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rosario taking a bit of punishment here - Luther scoring with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Luther trying to control the action but Rosario is working from the bottom.
Luther staying calm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosario is looking for a sweep.
Rosario struggling a bit here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Luther drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Rosario working for a triangle but Luther defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosario is trying to keep Luther in close.
Luther slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rosario sneaks back into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rosario is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Idris Luther showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Edwardo Rosario's cut.
That's time! Rosario's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Luther throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rosario was covering up waiting for the punch and Luther finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Luther trying to move into half guard but instead Rosario has managed to sweep!

Rosario loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Luther is trying to keep Rosario in close.
Rosario scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luther is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rosario stands up and waves to Luther to follow him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luther takes the fight into the clinch.
Rosario is looking for a takedown.
Luther looking to stall.
Luther is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rosario wants to break free but Luther has control.
Rosario has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rosario is trying to break free.
Rosario has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Luther lands an elbow inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Luther keeps control of Rosario as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nice elbow from Luther.

Edwardo Rosario's cut is getting worse.
Luther tries to land knees in the clinch but Rosario avoids the damage to the body.
Luther keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rosario's efforts to push away.
Luther has Rosario pressed against the cage, preventing Rosario from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Luther is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rosario wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rosario wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Luther stalling in the clinch but Rosario improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luther wants to stall.
Luther is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Rosario has denied him.

Luther drags the fight down to the ground.
Rosario postures up and lands a big shot to Luther's brow.
Luther avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Luther takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rosario throws a big right hand that misses.
Luther is looking to stand up but Rosario isn't so interested in that idea.
Rosario postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rosario working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rosario throws a strike but Luther rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rosario is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rosario pulls Luther in close to prevent any damage.
Rosario has a closed guard, preventing Luther from standing up.

Rosario had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Luther defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luther works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Idris Luther comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Luther has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Idris Luther!
Our winner, Idris Luther, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.